Orzocorre I of Arborea
Encyclopedia
Orzocorre I was the Judge of Arborea from circa 1070 (at least by 1073) to circa 1100 and is the first ruler of Arborea about whom anything substantial is known. He was the founder of an Arborean dynasty which reigned until 1185. He succeeded Marianus I
, about whose government nothing is known, though some presume that Orzocorre was his son. If true, this would make Orzocorre a member of the Thori family.
After it was destroyed in a war, Orzocorre moved the capital of Arborea from Tharros
to Aurestanni (Oristano
), where it remained for the next three centuries. He also built a church dedicated to Saint Nicholas at Ottana
.
Orzocorre ruled at a time when Western monasticism and the Gregorian reform
were bringing Sardinia
closer to the rest of Europe. Like his contemporary judges — Barison I
and Constantine I of Logudoro, Torchitorio I
and Constantine I of Cagliari
, and Torchitorio of Gallura
— he was an ally of the Church in order to improve the conditions — intellectual, political, religious, economic — of his giudicato. In 1074 and 1080, Pope Gregory VII
wrote two letters to Orzocorre ordering the clerics of Arborea to shave their beards, as was the Western custom. James, Archbishop of Cagliari, refused to comply with papal orders and was deprived of his authority. Gregory granted Orzocorre the authority to seize the assets of those clerics who refused to shave.
He was married to Nivata (also Nibatta or Nigata) and had two sons, Torbeno
and Orzocorre II
, each of whom succeeded him in turn.
Marianus I of Arborea
Marianus I, known as Mariano de Zori, was an early Judge of Arborea. The exact date of his reign is unknown. Francisco de Vico, followed by José Pellicer, placed it in 1000–20 without any documentary evidence. Giovanni Francesco Fara, after analysing the documents, placed the reign of one unnamed...
, about whose government nothing is known, though some presume that Orzocorre was his son. If true, this would make Orzocorre a member of the Thori family.
After it was destroyed in a war, Orzocorre moved the capital of Arborea from Tharros
Tharros
Tharros was an ancient city on the west coast of Sardinia, Italy, and is currently an archaeological site near the village of San Giovanni di Sinis, municipality of Cabras, in the Province of Oristano...
to Aurestanni (Oristano
Oristano
Oristano is a town and comune, capital of the Province of Oristano, on the island of Sardinia, Italy. It has approximately 32,500 inhabitants.Its economy is mainly based on fishing, agriculture and, to a certain extent, tourism.-History:...
), where it remained for the next three centuries. He also built a church dedicated to Saint Nicholas at Ottana
Ottana
Ottana is a comune in the Province of Nuoro in the Italian region Sardinia, located about 110 km north of Cagliari and about 25 km southwest of Nuoro.It is home to the Romanesque church of San Nicola....
.
Orzocorre ruled at a time when Western monasticism and the Gregorian reform
Gregorian Reform
The Gregorian Reforms were a series of reforms initiated by Pope Gregory VII and the circle he formed in the papal curia, circa 1050–80, which dealt with the moral integrity and independence of the clergy...
were bringing Sardinia
Sardinia
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...
closer to the rest of Europe. Like his contemporary judges — Barison I
Barisone I of Torres
Barison I or Barisone I was the giudice of Arborea from around 1038 until about 1060 and then of Logudoro until his death sometime around 1073. He is the first ruler of Logudoro of whom we have any real knowledge. His whole policy was opposition to Pisa and support of monastic immigration from...
and Constantine I of Logudoro, Torchitorio I
Torchitorio I of Cagliari
Orzocorre Torchitorio I was the Judge of Cagliari from about 1058 to his death. At his time, the throne was customarily alternated between the Torchitorio de Ugunale and Salusio de Lacon families...
and Constantine I of Cagliari
Constantine I of Cagliari
Constantine I was the giudice of Cagliari. He was the son of the giudice Orzocco Torchitorio and giudicessa Vera. In the eleventh century, the throne of Cagliari traditionally passed between the houses of Torchitorio de Ugunale and Salusio de Lacon. Constantine took the name Salusio II upon his...
, and Torchitorio of Gallura
Torchitorio of Gallura
Torchitorio de Zori is the earliest Judge of Gallura known with certainty and attested by contemporary sources. He lived in the late 11th century at a time when Sardinia was entering the wider Western European scene for the first time in centuries...
— he was an ally of the Church in order to improve the conditions — intellectual, political, religious, economic — of his giudicato. In 1074 and 1080, Pope Gregory VII
Pope Gregory VII
Pope St. Gregory VII , born Hildebrand of Sovana , was Pope from April 22, 1073, until his death. One of the great reforming popes, he is perhaps best known for the part he played in the Investiture Controversy, his dispute with Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor affirming the primacy of the papal...
wrote two letters to Orzocorre ordering the clerics of Arborea to shave their beards, as was the Western custom. James, Archbishop of Cagliari, refused to comply with papal orders and was deprived of his authority. Gregory granted Orzocorre the authority to seize the assets of those clerics who refused to shave.
He was married to Nivata (also Nibatta or Nigata) and had two sons, Torbeno
Torbeno of Arborea
Torbeno or Turbino was the eldest son and successor of Orzocorre I as Judge of Arborea from about 1100 until his death.His mother was Nivata or Nibatta or Nivatora...
and Orzocorre II
Orzocorre II of Arborea
Orzocorre II was the Judge of Arborea in Sardinia in the early twelfth century. He was the son and successor of Torbeno and Anna de Lacon....
, each of whom succeeded him in turn.
Sources
- Manno, Giuseppe. Storia di Sardegna. 2005.
- Fara, G. F. De Rebus Sardois.